Chief Steve Anderson has appointed Madison Precinct Commander Brian Johnson one of the department’s three deputy chiefs to succeed Louise Kelton as head of the Field Operations Bureau. Kelton, a 32-year Nashville police department veteran, retired January 11th as the result of her appointment by President Obama to be Middle Tennessee’s United States Marshal.

Johnson, 47, a 19-year Nashville police department veteran who is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, holds a Master’s Degree from Columbia Southern University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Trevecca Nazarene University. Johnson opened the Madison Precinct as its commander when it began operations on January 1, 2012. As a captain, Johnson served first as the Field Operations Bureau’s executive officer and then as head of the Special Operations Division (which includes the Aviation, Canine, Traffic,Hazardous Devices and Emergency Contingency Units). During his tenure as a lieutenant, Johnson oversaw the Central Precinct’s Investigations Unit.

“Commander Johnson has proven himself to be a very effective law enforcement leader who cares deeply for Nashville and its families,” Chief Anderson said. “Citizens and business leaders in Madison have been highly complimentary of his work and partnership with them over the past year. Deputy Chief Kelton’s extraordinary and exemplary management, counsel and dedication to this police department will be sorely missed. I do,however, strongly believe that Brian Johnson is the right person to assume the challenges of leading the Field Operations Bureau, to which more than 1,000police personnel are assigned.”

Succeeding Johnson as Madison Precinct Commander is Captain Sebastian Gourdin, a 13-year police department veteran who currently oversees the Youth Services Division. Prior to his Youth Services assignment, Gourdin,a graduate of Campbell University, was an overnight field supervisor assigned to the Office of the Chief of Police. He received extensive experience in patrol as an officer, detail sergeant and shift lieutenant. Gourdin has also been honored by his acceptance into Session 252 of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Replacing Gourdin in Youth Services and being promoted to captain is Gordon Howey, a 26-year police department veteran who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Liberty University. As a lieutenant, Howey supervised investigators in the Office of Professional Accountability, gang and vice detectives in the Specialized Investigations Division and, most recently, detectives assigned to the Madison Precinct’s Investigative Unit. (Replacing Howey at Madison Precinct Investigations is Lieutenant Curtis Watkins, a 14-yearNashville Police Department veteran and Trevecca graduate, who, along with Deputy Chief Johnson, will oversee Madison Precinct operations during Commander Gourdin’s time away at the FBI National Academy).

Also being promoted to captain is Keith Stephens, an 11-year police department veteran who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia Southern University. Stephens will become the Executive Officer in the Field Operations Bureau, a position left vacant when Captain Gary Goodwin retired to become Goodlettsville’s Chief of Police. As a lieutenant, Stephens supervised the Traffic Unit and the North Precinct’s day patrol shift.

As part of a planned supervisory rotation in the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA), the police department’s internal affairs component,Lieutenant Chris Gilder, a 10-year Nashville police department veteran who holds a law degree from the Nashville School of Law and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Georgia, will transfer to OPA from the West Precinct. Current OPA Lieutenant Mitch Fuhrer, a 19-year police department veteran and graduate of Mercyhurst College, will move to the Specialized Investigations Division.

“The high number of extremely dedicated and talented men and women in this police department makes appointment, promotion and assignment decisions very difficult, but that is a good thing,” Chief Anderson said. “Our police department is committed to building partnerships and relationships with families and community leaders in neighborhoods throughout Nashville. All of us, from the leadership team down, are grateful for the community’s support and we all look forward to building on the successes of 2012 and facing the challenges of2013.”